Pretty horrible situation on South Cochran Avenue where a woman was killed in her apartment by a former boyfriend while the LAPD officers protecting her were watching for him outside. LAT, Witness LA

The Schwarzenegger administration is denying rumors that chief of staff Susan Kennedy is preparing to leave for a job with Mercury Public Affairs leading the water bond campaign. Political Blotter

Gov. Schwarzenegger quietly spiked an effort last month to win $1.1 billion in federal high-speed rail stimulus funds for commuter train projects, choosing only to seek money for the proposed bullet train between San Francisco and San Diego. LAT

Those ads by the California Milk Advisory Board touting the benefits of drinking California milk are going to be filmed in New Zealand. LAT

Brand management firm Iconix Brand Group and a group led by Jim Griffiths, Playboy's former entertainment president, are both in talks to acquire Playboy Enterprises Inc. and take it private for more than $300 million. LAT

State Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, issued a statement on the resignation of Lou Dobbs saying in part, "“I commend CNN for responding to the millions of Americans who, over nearly a decade, have requested accountability for the hate speech, falsehoods, and personal political rhetoric that Dobbs has presented as news." Via release

Some background pulled together on the legal dispute between First AME's pastor and an estranged pastor, involving allegations of sex and stolen documents. Wave

The operators of a new Larchmont take-out shop agreed to not have tables or be a restaurant, and now are getting ink for flouting the law. LAT

There was enough rain last night to trigger a small mud flow in La Canada-Flintridge. LAT, DN wires

Former local talk show host Larry Elder plans to launch a podcast in December, says radio columnist Gary Lycan. OC Register